Denmark increases its defence budget due to Russian threat

Denmark's lawmakers confirmed the $2.14 billion increase of the country's defence budget. The deal, proposed in October last year, was approved on 28 January and signals Denmark's efforts to strengthen its military capabilities amid regional concerns over the growing threat from Russia.

Denmark already enhanced its cyber defence cooperation with the Nordic states as a response to previous Russian hacker attacks. The newly approved agreement to allocate an additional amount to military spending covers also the establishment of a new, 4 000 men brigade that will be deployed in the Baltic sea area, while $500 million will be granted to cyber defence. Denmark's measures follow a similar line of boosting the defence capabilities that is to be seen among other European countries, too. “The international threat picture is very serious. A more assertive Russia close to NATO’s borders, terrorism, cyber threats and irregular migrant flows are all things we need to deal with,” said Denmark's Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen on the country's security perception. Comparatively, the threat posed by Russia, mentioned on January 22 by the head of the British Army, General Sir Nick Carter, was to urge the British government to avoid further cuts to the country's military spending.